Portable jack



J. R. HENKLE PORTABLE JACK April 14,1931.

Original Filed May 16, 1927 2 SheetsSheet l Avg;

April 14, 1931. J R HENKLE 1,800,939

PORTABLE JACK Original Filed May 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr.14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN R. HENKLE, OF CHICAGO,ILLTNOIS, ASSIGNOB TO MERCURY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PORTABLE JACK Original applicationfiled May 16, 1927, Serial No. 191,687, Patent No. 1,74 0,29 9, datedDecember 17, 1929.

1 Divided and this application filed. April 12, 1928. Serial No.269,323.

This case is a division of my copending application for patent for aportable jack filed May 16th, 1927, Serial No. 191,687 (Patented Dec.17, 1929, as Patent 1 No. 1,710,299), and relates more particularly topushin and pulling implements.

The present invention relates to aportable trailer jack adapted to beremovably engaged beneath the front or rear axle of a vehicle to elevateone end of the vehicle, thereby permitting the trailer jack to be pulledover the ground by means of a motor truck or other suitable means tomove the vehicle from one place to another. 1

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable trailer jack ofsubstantial construction provided with suitable screw operated means forjacking up one end of a vehicle and, furthermore, being provided withrollers permitting the jack mechanism to be used as a portable supportfor one end of a vehicle to permit the vehicle to be transported fromone lace to another.

It is also an ob ect of this invention to provide aportable jack of thetrailer type having a pivoted jack mechanism adapted to be operated bymeans of telescoping screw members operable by means of a rotatablecrank.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a portable jackembracing a metal frame supported on casters, said metal frame having acrank or lever operated jacking device pivotally mounted thereon andconnected by telescoping screw members with the crank or levermechanism.

Other and further important objects of this invention will, be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.p

i This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawingsand hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portable jack embodying the principlesof this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line II-II of Figure 1, withparts shownin elevation.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the portable truck with the bail andthe away.

Figure 4; is an enlarged detail view taken on line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan vlew ofone of the rear corners ofthe portable jack taken on line V.V of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentarytransverse section taken on line VI VI ofFigure 1..

As shown on the drawings: 1

The reference numerall indicates a heavy metal chassis or frame on thefront end of which a draw yoke or bail 2 is pivotally mounted by meansof a cross rod or shaft 3. The bail 2 is provided with a suitable latchhead mechanism 4 to permit the same to be rem'ovably engaged. in apulling ring secured to a motor truck or the like.

The jack frame 1 is providedwitha rotatable roller caster 5 havinga ballbearing 6 positioned between the caster bracket and a transverse fronttop plate? forming a part of the jack framework. The front caster 5 ispositioned under the middle front portion of the frame 1. Pivotallysupported under the rear corners of theframework 1 lever broken arerearrotatable casters 8 and 9, each of which is provided with a ballbearing 10 positioned between thecaster bracket and the rear cornerplates 11 forming part of the framework 1.

'lhepircular top plate 12 of the rear caster 8 is provided with a pairof diametrically opposite notches 13 positioned substantially in themiddle plane of the roller of the caster 8. The notches 13 are providedin the caster 8 for the purpose of locking the same against rotationwith respect to the C framework 1, so that the portable ack maybeconveniently steered into place. The notched plate of the caster 8 isadapted to be locked by means of a suitable bolt or rod 14 which isslidably mounted beneath one side of the framework 1 in an aperturedguidelug 15 secured on the under side of one of the frame sills. Thelocking bolt 1 1 also projects through an aperture in a transverse webplate. 16 forming part of the framework 1. Secured on the locking bolt14 between the apertured guide lug 15 and the web plate 16 is a coiledspring 17 which acts to slidably project the locking the like engaged inone of the chassis: rame sills. The coiled spring 20 is st'rongerthanthe coiled spring 17 and normally acts to' hold the latch bolt 14 inaretracted or released position, as shown in Figure 5. The bell crankmember hasa short bell crank arm 21in the end of which a pin 22 issecured at right angles to' permit said pin to project through a curved.guide slot 23 provided in one of the chassis frame sills. The controlpin 22 is provided to permit thelatch bolt 14 to be projected intolocking engagement with one of the notches 13 of the caster 8 to holdsaid caster against rotation with re- 7 spect to the framework 1. Thecontrol pin 22 is operable by means of a connecting bar or toggle 23; ashereinafter more fully described.

The jacking device proper. is mounted upon the framework 1 on atransverse shaft 24 mounted in suitable bearing. brackets 25 securedto'the top rear portion of the framework 1. Pivotally mounted on theshaft 24 is a bell crank sleeve 26 having integrally formed at rightangles to the middle portion thereof a short lower bell crank arm 27.Also integrally formed on the bell crank sleeve 26 on opposite sidesofthe intermediate or middle bell crank arm 27 are two long bell crankarms 28. Pivotally mounted on each of the long bellcrank arms 28 is agrooved or recessed jack shoe 29 to one. of which the upper end .of theconnecting bar 23 is pivotally connected. Pivotally connected to theother jack shoe 29 is one end of a connecting bar or toggle 30, thelower endof which is pivotally connected to the framework 1, asillustrated inFigure 6. The

connecting toggles 23 and 30 actto hold the upper grooved portions ofthejack shoes 29 in a horizontal position at all times regardless of theposition of the jack bell crank mechanism. It will also be noted thatthe toggle bar 23 is adapted to coact with the pin 22 to control theoperation of the locking bolt 14, when the bell crankarms 28 are swungdownwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 to lower the jackshoesinto a position to permit the same to be engaged underneath an axle of avehicle or other device which is to be raised.

The jack bell crank mechanism is adapted to be operatedbymeans of ascrewdevice con- 1 sisting of an internally threaded transmis- 1,so0,939 Vsion sleeve'or hollow shaft 31, one end of which is open and the otherend-of which is closedand provided with a pair of spaced lugs 32 whichare pivotally connected to opposite sides of the intermediate or middlebell crank arm 27. Threaded intothe internally threaded sleeve 31 is oneend of a screw shaft 33 which projects upwardly at an angle and has theupper end reduced in di- 'ameter and projecting through a bearingcarried. Mounted on the upper projecting end of the screw shaft 33 is aratchet 39 with which a double acting pawl 40 is adapted to coact. Thedouble acting pawl 40 is mounted on. one side of a crank 41 providedwith a V handle 42 to facilitate rotation ofthe crank 41 and the screwshaft 33. The upper end of the crank 41 is provided with a recess orpocket for the purpose of-removably receiv ing one end of the lever orhandle bar ,38 when it is necessary to have a greater leverage for thepurpose of rotating thescrew shaft 33. The socket 37 is merely providedfor the purpose of carrying the lever or handle bar 38 when not in use..The operation is as, follows The portable jack is provided witha pivotedbail 2 to permit the hooked head 4ithereof'to be removably engaged to amotor truck or other device to permit thekportable jack to be pulled.WVhen the jack mechanisms mounted upon the framework 1 aresto be used,the handle 42. of. thei crank 41 is used to turn the crank so thatthepivoted pawl 40 will cause rotation of the. ratchet 39,thereby causingthe screw shaft'33 tobe rotated to pull the internallythreadedsleeveshafti 31 forwardly, :thereby swinging the intermediate jack bellcrank arm- 27 forwardly to cause the long bell crank jack arms 28 :toswing downwardly from the raised position shown in.Figure2 to causelowering of the jackshoes 29. As' the jack shoesare lowered theconnecting bars'or links 23 and'30serve to maintain the upper groovedportions ofthe jackshoes-in a horizontal position. When the jackbellfcrank'has been lowereda predetermined amount the connectinglinkl23jis brought into engagement with .the pin 22, thereby causing thebell crank -18 21 to be operated against the action of the spring 20,

so that the long arm18 of said bell crank'acts to project the lockingbolt 14into latching engagement with one of the notches 13 of-the rear-caster 8; The caster 8' is thus held against rotation with respect-to.the. jack frame 1. This arrangement permits the portable jack to. bepushed in a straight line to position the lowered jack shoes 29 beneaththe front axle of an automobile or other device which is to be raised.\Vith the lowcred jack shoes in position the crank 41 is rotated in anopposite direction by means of the handle 42 to cause the screw shaft 33to be rotated upwardly in the shaft sleeve 31, thereby causing the jackbell crank to be operated to gradually raise the jack shoes 29 to causethe same to elevate the front axle of the vehicle and lift the entirefront end of said vehicle off of the ground. As described, it will benoted that the front end of the vehicle is supported by the jack shoes29 upon the portable ack mechanism so that the jacked up vehicle may bereadily towed with the portable jack acting as a suitable roller supportfor one end of the vehicle.

In case the leverage afforded by the handle i2 on the crank 41 isinsufficient to permit a heavy vehicle or other device to be elevated,the lever or handle bar 38 may be removed from the socket 37 and beengaged in the upper recessed end of the crank ll. This arrangementpermits a greater leverage to be exerted upon the screw shaft mechanismsso that the bell crank device may be operated to raise heavy loads. Withthe raising of the jack shoes 29 the connecting link 23 is moved out ofengagement with the pin 22, thereby causing the control spring 20 actingon the long bell crank arm 18 to pull the latch bolt ll out of latchingengagement with the caster 8 against the action of the coiled spring 17.It will thus be noted that when the jack mechanisms are in an elevatedposition that the latch bolt 14 is released to permit the caster 8 torotate with respect to the jack frame 1 and when the jack shoes are inlowered posi tion the latch bolt 14 serves to lock the caster 8 againstrotation so that the portable jack may be conveniently pushed in astraight line underneath the device which is to be elevated.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable jack comprising a frame, casters supporting the same, abell crank pivotally mounted on said frame, spaced jack shoes pivotallymounted on said bell crank, means for independently maintaining saidjack shoes in horizontal position at all times, a threaded sleevepivoted on said bell crank, a screw shaft connected with said sleeve, athrust bearing supporting one end of said screw shaft, a ratchetconnected to said screw shaft, a pawl coacting therewith, and a crankpivoted on said screw shaft for supporting said pawl and adapted toactuate the same to cause said screw shaft to raise and lower said jackshoes.

2. A portable. jack comprising a portable frame, a jack mechanismmounted thereon, a screw shaft connected to operate said jack mechanism,a ratchet on said screw shaft, a hollow crank pivotally mounted on saidscrew shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said crank coacting with saidratchet to permit operation of the screw shaft to cause actuation of thejack mechanism, and a handle bar for remov able engagement in saidhollow crank when a greater leverage is required.

3. A portable jack comprising a portable frame, a three arm bell crankpivotally mounted on said frame, jack shoes pivotally mounted on two ofsaid bell crank arms, means for independently holding said jack shoes ina horizontal position at all times, a threaded sleeve pivoted on thethird arm of said ball crank, a screw shaft threaded into said sleeve, athrust bearing at one end of said screw shaft, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for operating said screw shaft, a crank pivoted on one end of saidscrew shaft for operating said pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a handlefor actuating said crank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cookcounty,

Illinois.

JOHN R. HENKLE.

